Sectional partition



Dec. 11, 1928. 1,694,690

w. J. REINHOLD SECTIONAL PARTITION Filed June 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PI 1-5-3- FIE 4. P115553.

A TTORNEYS.

Deb. 11, 1928. 1,694,690

w. J. REXNHOLD SECTIONAL PARTITION Filed June 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 572a 6283 as 6/ -52 f Ti:: A

42 V 55 i n 97 Z 3 A TTORNE YS Patented Dec. 11, 1928 STATES WILLIAM J. REINHOLD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PACIFIC MANUFACTURING- COIVEPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Application filed June 27,

This invention relates generally to parti tions which are manufactured in the form of a number of interchangeable parts capable of being readily assembled to form a wall. Structures of this kind are commonly known as sectional partitions.

It is an object of this invention to devise a sectional partition which will be so constructed as to facilitate installation of electrical wiring conduit, Where it is desired to provide outlet terminals, switches or other electrical devices in the partition.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a sectional partition having vertical pilasters provided with passages for electrical wiring conduit and to so construct the pilasters that the passages are readily accessible for installing such conduit after the partition has been assembled.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a sectional partition which may be readily assembled and will have a neat appearance.

Further objects of this invention will appear from the following description in which I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sectional partition constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail taken along the line 33 of 1.

Fig. 4c is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional detail taken along the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail illustrating one of the vertical pilasters showing the manner in which wiring conduit is installed.

The particular partition which we have illustrated in the drawing comprising upper and lower horizontal rails 10 and 11 interconnected by a plurality of vertical stiles or pilasters 12. Disposed between these rails and pilasters are the main panel sections 13 which are usually made in standard sizes and SECTIONAL IPARTETION.

1927. Serial No. 201,612.

are interchangeable. here the partition is extended to the ceiling of a room, there may be provided a top rail 1% connected with the rest of the partition by a plurality of auxiliary vertical pilasters 16, the rail 14 and pilaster 16 serving to position a plurality of auxiliary panels 17. Both the panel sections 13 and the auxiliary panels 17 may be made of opaque material such as wood, or may be made of glass for passage of light. may also be disposed between any two of the vertical stiles 12, and this door is made substantially the same size as the panel sections 13 so as to be interchangeable with the same. The construction of each of the vertical pilasters has been shown in detail in Fig. 4 and preferably comprises a vertical post 21 which may be formed of one piece of wood, but which for convenience is preferably constructed of an inner strip 22 and a finishing strip 23 permanently secured together. Formed in one side of strip 22, there is a groove 241 which is made sufficient in width and depth to receive a rigid or flexible metal wiring conduit 26 of standard diameter. To complete the pilaster, there is provided another finishing strip 27 which is adapted to be detachably secured to the inner strip 22 in a position to cover the groove 2d. Both the detachable finishing strip 27 and the strip 23 are preferably of greater width than the inner strip 22, so as to form side grooves 28 to receive the edges of panel sections as shown.

For detachably retaining the finishing strips 27 to the vertical stiles, I preferably employ spring clips which are arranged at spaced points within the grooves 2 1. These clips for example may each be formed of a strip of metal 31 bent U-shaped and secured to the strip 22 within the groove 21 as shown.

v The free ends of the strip are provided with slots 32 adapted to engage the ends of fingers 33 which are likewise secured to the inner face of the finishing strip 27. The ends of the strips 31 are so bent that when the finishing strip 27 is properly positioned, it may be merely pushed in place against the strip 22 to cause the fingers 23 to interlock with the ends of strips 31 thus retaining the finishing strip 27 in position sufficiently secure for all practical purposes. To remove the finishing strip for access to the groove 24 it is merely necessary to exert sufiicient force in pulling the same outwardly from the strip 22.

A door 18 The lower portion of each of the vertical pilasters is adapted to interlock with the bottom rail ll as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This bottom rail is preferably constructed of a floor strip 36 which suitably secured to the floor as b means or anchor bolts 87. Secured to one side of the strip 36, are the base board sections 38, the ends of which are adapted to abut the edges of finishing strip 23. The base board sections 38 usually have secured thereto filler strip 39, the ends of which are adapted to be dctachably clamped to the vertical pilasier posts 21. Suitable clamping means for example may com arise L-braclnts ll secured to the ends of each tiller strip 39. Bolts or screws 42 are inserted through these brackets and threaded to another bracket secured to ne lower portion of strip 21 of each piia The vertical post 21 off each pilaster an the floor strip 36 are also preferably inte.loclted by means which may be readily engaged when the partition is being assembled. in this instance there is oilOlVll L -shaped metal me-n'iber A which is secured to the upper ed e of the floor strip 36, and which has slots do provided at its One of these slots is adapted to be engaged by a metal hook l? secured to the lower portion out nnishing strip 23. Looking of the vertical post 21 with the floor strip 36 merely requires lateral movement of post- 21 in a horizontal direction. After the hook l7 has become engaged with the slotted member n, and the base boards 38 have been secured in position, it will be impossible to loosen this interlocking engageme: The double arrangement of slots in member 44 is provided so that the vertical stiles are reversible.

To complete the inside of the lower rail, or the side which faces the interior of the room enclosed, there is provided a molding strip 1 8 which may either be secured to the floor or to the side of the floor strip 36, and which extends the length of the partition. Detachabh secured in position above the molding strip 458, as by means or screws 49, are the base board sections 51 which preterably have tongue and groove connection with the upper edge of the molding strip d8. Since the floor strip and filler strip 39 are spaced apart vertically, the base boards and 51 enclose horizontal. passageway 52 which is adequate to receive one or more electrical wiring conduits. This p ssageway in the lower rail communicates with the groove in the vertical stile 12, since the inner strip 22 of each piiaster terminates short 01 the floor strip 36. The upper edges of the base boards 38 and 51 preferably extend above the filler strips so to form grooves 53 for receiving the lower edges of the main panels 13. These panels may be more securely forced into position by means of wedges 54 inserted between the lower edges thereof and the upper face of the filler strips 39.

The upper or cornice rail 10 preferably in cludes a strip 56 which is secured to the central strip 22 of each vertical stile as by means of the metal L-braclrets 5'4". This strip is provided with groove so as to lit over the upper edges or the main panels, and thus serves as a means for strengthening the partition and for keeping the panels in assembled condition. Disposed above the groove strip 56 and secured to the same are one or more tiller strips 59 and which form the body of the upper rail, and to the sides of which are socured the finishing strips 62. The upper edge of tiller strip 61 is preterably provided with a groove 63 which is adequate to receive additional metal *iring conduit G l. The appearance of this upper rail may be enhanced by the use oi cornice molding 65 and other molding strips 66. ll hcre the grooved strip 56 and filler strips 59 and 61 pass over each pilaster, they are cut away to provide a passageway 6'7 which communicates between the groove 68 in the upper rail, and the groove 2% in the pilaster.

vl hero door is swung between two of the vertical pilasters as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one of the panels 18 is omitted and a suitable door frame is secured to the inner edges of the vertical stiles, and to the bottom edge of the upper rail 10. F 1' example as shown in F? r. 5 such a door rrame may be constructed oi 1amb strips '71 secured to the inner edges of the adjacent vertical pilaster and having a strip '52 secured to the same to act as a door stop. By reversing the strip 1 at the swinging edge of the door, it obvious that ti o door may "e hung to swing either directron.

Generally it is not practical to construct the panel sections so that he assembled partition will exactly tit between two Walls of a 00m. For this reason a certain amount of pace is left between the vertical pilasters at "he end of the partitions, and the adjacent room walls and these spaces may be tilled by means of filler panels 73 ot the desired width. These filler panels for example may be retained in position by means of agrooved strip 7% secured to the wall of the room.

The auxiliary pilasters 16 are preferably --r l with the main pilasters l2, and this construction is shown in detail in Fig.

U. They may comprise for example a. pair of finishing strips '76 retained upon opposite edges a pair of spaced filler strips '77. A vertical passageway "78 is thus formed which is alined with and communicating with the groove in the lower main pilaster. The grooves T9 formed between the edges of the finishing strips 7 6 serve as a means for engagng the edges of the auxiliary panel 17. Positioned upon the top of the upper rail 16, there strip 81 having a lower tongue 82 adapted to engage in the groove 63, and having an upper groove 83 adapted to be en- Ill;

gag-ed by the lower edges of the auxiliary panel 17. The top edges of the auxiliary panels are retained together by the top rail 14 which includes a strip 84 suitably secured to the ceiling. This strip is provided with spaced grooves 86 adapted to engage tongues 87 on a pair of finishing strips 88 which are secured to opposite faces of the upper edges of auxiliary panels 17. The interior faces of horizontal strips 88 are preferably recessed to provide a passageway 89 for receiving metal wiring conduit 91. Passageway 89 of course communicates with all of the vertical passageways in the auxiliary pilasters 16.

Any time after or during the assembly of the partition, the electrical wiring conduit may be positioned within the same in any desired manner. For example I have shown the metal conduit 91 as extending horizontally in the passageway 89, the top rail of the partition and extending downwardly in one of the auxiliary pilasters 16 to a suitable metal terminal box 93 arranged within the upper rail 10 at the intersection oi": passages 63 and 88 of the'upper auxiliary pilaster. From the metal box 93 I have shown the conduit extending horizontally thru the passageway 63 of the upper rail 10, and another conduit 96 extending downwardly thru the groove 24 of one of the vertical pilasters 12. Any desired electrical device may be mounted upon the removable finishing strip 27 of a wired pilaster. For example I have shown a switch 94, the face plate of which is flush with the face of the removable finishing strip 27. The mechanism of this switch is mounted within a suitable metal switch box connecting with the conduits 26 and 96. V] hen the electrician installs such a switch, it is a con'iparatively simple matter to cut away a recess in the inner strip 22 of one of the vertical pilasters, in order to provide room for receiving the outlet box. Leading from the switch 94, I have shown the metal conduit 26 extending downwardly thru the end of the pilaster into the passageway 52 of the lower rail 11. Mounted upon one of the removable base boards 51, there is shown a convenient outlet terminal 97 adapted to receive the plug connector of an electrical cord. It is of course obvious that any arrangement of electrical devices may be employed and that electrical switches, convenient outlets, or other electrical devices may be mounted at any point along the removable base boards 51 or on the removable finishing strips 27 of the vertical pilasters 12.

In assembling the partition it is preferable to first secure the strip 36 to the floor and then interlock the lower ends of the pilaster post 21 with the same. The outer base boards 3r. together with the filler strips 39 are then clamped to the vertical pilaster posts by means of the screws 42, and these base boards are likewise secured tothe floor strips 36. The

main panel sections are then positioned between the pilaster posts and the grooved strip 56 of the upper rail 10 extended across the upper edges of the same. The wedges 56 are then inserted and the remainder of the partition parts assembled in any order which may be convenient. After assembling it is a simple matter for anelectrician to insert electrical wiring conduit merely by removing the finishing strips 2? of the pilasters 12, and the inner base boards 51 from the bottom rail 11. The wires may be brought into the partition thru the floor, side walls or ceiling of the room.

I claim:

1. In a sectional partition, upper and lower horizontal rails, a vertical pilaster joining said rails, said pilaster comprising a post portion having a longitudinal groove formed within the same and a side strip adapted to be removably secured to the post to cover said groove, said lower rail having a removable side strip which covers a horizontal passage termed within the lower rail, said passage and groove being in communication whereby metal-wiring conduit may be concealed within the same and extended in both horizontal and vertical directions.

2. In a sectional partition, upper and lower horizontal rails, a vertical pilaster joining said rails, said pilaster comprising a post portion having a longitudinal groove formed within the same and a side strip adapted to be removably secured to the post to cover said groove, said lower rail having a removable side strip which covers a horizontal passage formed within the lower rail, said upper rail having a horizontal passage "formed within the same, said horizontal passages communicating with the upper and lower ends of the pilaster groove whereby metal conduit may be extended vertically thru the pilaster and horizontally thru said rails.

3. In a sectional partitiomupper and lower horizontal rails, a vertical pilaster joining said rails, said pilaster comprising-a post portion having a longitudinal groove, and a removable side strip adapted to cover said groove, a metal outlet box disposed within said post, netal wiring conduit disposed within said groove and communicating with said box, and an electrical instrun'ient .disposed within the box and projecting thru said side strip.

4. In a sectional partition, a base rail and a vertical pilaster member, said base rail member including a strip adapted to be secured to the floor of a room, and means for locking the lower end of the pilaster to said strip upon lateral movement of the pilaster relative to the strip.

'5. In a sectional partition, a base rail and a vertical pilaster member, said base rail member including a strip adapted to be se cured to the floor of a room, and means for locking the lower end of the piluster to said strip upon lateral movement of the pilaster relative to the strip, said means including aslctted element secured to one member and a hook secured to the other member.

6. In a sectional partiion, a base rail, a pilaster adapted to rest upon a portion of said rail, means toi'--detacl1ably locking said pilaster to said rail, said base rail including a floor strip and a filler strip spaced vertically and disposed parallel to the base strip, a base board secured to one side of said strips, a molding strip secured to the other side of said floor strip, and another base board having a tongue and groove connection with said molding strip and adapted to be detachably secured to the other side of said floor and tiller strips In asectional partition, a base rail ing a hoor strip, a pilaster adapted to be chably locked to said strip said pilaster havii'ig vertical passage therethrough, a filler strip parallel to said floor strip and spaced vertically from the same, said tiller strip abutting the lo er portion of the pilastor and adapted to be clamped to the same,

- a base board secured to one side of said s another base board detachably secured to the other side of said strips whereby the space between the strips is enclosed to term "eway for metal wiring conduit.

a sectional partition, a pilaster comvertical post having a groove i one side thereof for receiving metal i n19; conduit, and a finishing strip adapted in deta habl y secured to said post to cover l groove.

lo a sectional partition, a pilaster comorisino a post having a groove formed in one hereof for receiving metal wiring cond iii, a "dishing strip adapted to cover said cove. and spring clips for detachably resaid strip upon the post.

a sectional partition, a pilast-er coma post having groove formed in thereof for receiving metal wiring 3 a finishing strip adapted to cover 1 groove, and spring clips disposed within said the groove for retaining said strip upon the 305i said strip being removable by forcing he same outwardly from the post.

11. in a sectional partition; a vertical stile 'ng a post having a groove in one side comprr' ther-eo; for metal wiring conduit, a hnishlng 3 adapted to cover said groove, and metal detachably retaining the finishing rio the post; a base rail comprising a o upon which the pilaster post is .dapted to rest, a tiller strip arranged in red relationship above the floor strip, tiller strip having one end abutting the ower end of the pilaster post and secured to he same, and base boards secured to oppo- F es of said strips, one of said boards being removable to permit placing of metal wiring conduit in the passage formed between said strips; an upper rail extending cross the top of said pilaster, said upper rail including a member having a groove in its upper side for receiving metal conduit; said passages in said rails communicating with the groove of said pilaster; and panel sections disposed between the rails and en- ;z agino the edge of the pilaster.

12. in a sectional wood partition, an interk m a f he cha cable pilaster comprising a wood post hr g a longitudinal groove extending along one side thereoi o1 sutlicient size to receive metal viring conduit, and a finishing strip reniovably secured to said post and serving to cover said groove, said structure forming an int-ercl'iangeable unit which may be wired before or after assembly with the panels of a partition.

13. In a sectional wood partition, an interigeable pilaster comprising a wood post a longitudinal groove extending along one thereof of suflicient size to receive metal wiring conduit, a finishing strip of width than the post removably secured to one side of said post and serving to cover said groove, another strip secured to the opposite side oi? the post of greater width than the wet said stri'is to ether with said i my hand.

WILLIAM J. REINHOLD. 

